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Clady rising in Broncos ranks after signing deal

Tackle accepts five-year, $52.5 million contract

By Jeff Legwold The Denver Post

Posted:
07/15/2013 10:44:55 PM MDT

Updated:
07/15/2013 10:45:20 PM MDT

DENVER -- As Mike Shanahan wrapped up his final draft as the Broncos' coach in 2008, he offered this tidy prediction about what turned out to be his last No. 1 pick for the team: "Ryan Clady will be a great one for a long time. This guy is one of those kinds of players."

Five seasons later, the team still agrees and has elevated Clady to one of its foundation players, having signed the 26-year-old left tackle to a five-year, $52.5 million contract. The deal could be worth $5 million more if Clady earns every incentive in it regarding selections to all-pro teams.

It puts the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Clady, financially and in terms of expectations, on the NFL's shortlist at left tackle, one that includes Cleveland's Joe Thomas, considered the benchmark at the position by many personnel executives in the league.

"It definitely puts me in some good company, up there with Joe Thomas," Clady said Monday on a conference call. "I've been working hard. I think this is a big year for us as a team because, you know, we're stacked. Definitely have a lot of expectations -- Super Bowl or bust for the most part. It's a lot of pressure. Definitely a big step with us this year."

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